Wenger criticism is over the top, says Villa boss

Paul Lambert reckons Arsene Wenger has been unfairly criticised and admits he is grateful to the Villa supporters who have not turned on him.

The Scot has enjoyed the majority of
fans’ backing at Villa Park since his arrival but the same cannot be said for Wenger at The Emirates in recent times.

Frustrated
Gooners have turned on the Frenchman in the wake of the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich which followed FA Cup misery and Capital One Cup disaster.

Another trophy-less season looms at The Emirates but Lambert believes it’s disrespectful to hammer the manager so hard.

‘‘The level of criticism towards Arsene Wenger is a bit over the top,’’ he said.

“If
people are shouting ‘he doesn’t know what he is doing’ then there is no
hope for the rest of us.

"In 16 years he’s just missed out on a Champions League win against Barcelona.

“He’s
won the Premier League (three times) and he’s won the FA Cup. If that’s
‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ then I think there’s something not right there.

“For 16 years
he’s been at a club and what he’s achieved is phenomenal. I can’t speak
for the Arsenal fans, but the Villa fans have been brilliant to me. They could have turned pretty quickly with the results but they have been excellent.

“You can’t keep everybody happy all the time, I understand that, but the fans at Villa have been brilliant to me.”

Lambert reckons Arsenal’s defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday should not be so heavily scrutinised.

He
believes the German giants are one of the best teams in the world and that people in England have not yet recognised the quality of the Bundesliga.

“I think people in this country are a bit ignorant to the Bundesliga and the way it is,” he added.

“I’ve experienced it first hand, the crowds, the stature of the clubs you come up against over there.

“Is it a disgrace to lose to Bayern? The way they are performing and playing? No.

“It
didn’t surprise me Bayern beat them, I think they are a right good team. You are talking about a team which lost on penalties in the Champions League final and potentially could go and do it again.

“Everyone
can make a lot over two defeats and it is magnified because of the club
they are and who they’ve beat. I’m pretty sure Wenger will be hurting but the 16 years he has done for Arsenal have been incredible.”